Dr. Ryland Grace wakes up in a spaceship with no memories and two dead crewmates for company. He doesn’t know who he is, he doesn’t know what he’s doing there, and he doesn’t know what happened to him. Orbiting an unknown planet, he struggles to figure it all out.

What he eventually discovers is that Earth is facing an apocalypse like none it has ever known – one that will extinguish all life on it! Faced with solving this impossible dilemma, he must figure out how to save Earth before it’s too late. Can one man with no memories accomplish this task?

I don’t want to reveal anything more about the plot, as it would be a big spoiler to say what the threat was and how Ryland attempts to solve it. However, the threat is not something one would typically expect in a science fiction novel. It’s a threat unlike any other yet is scientifically plausible. What this threat does is place the Earth in a bind, where the clock is ticking down and as time passes, the chaos and eventual extinction on Earth becomes starkly clearer and ever direr.

Also, there is a very specific gamechanger that completely shifts the story in an unexpected direction. This gamechanger is so important, without it, Grace might not be able to solve this difficult conundrum. These changes introduce a new dimension to the storytelling. It’s a delightful addition that spotlights Ryland’s prowess with science and challenges his problem-solving abilities like never before.

It all comes together and leads into a finale that is monumental, powerful, and moving. It placed a firm exclamation point on this entire endeavor by bringing Ryland’s story full circle and completing his journey, both literally and metaphorically, in a highly satisfying way.

As Ryland slowly recovers his memories that are spurred by his efforts to save the planet, they occur in the form of flashbacks. Through these recollections, the mystery of the threat facing Earth is slowly revealed. From Ryland’s personality, his former profession, and his current scientific specialties, each event leads him to slowly unravel the puzzle of this situation.

This premise sets up much of the intrigue surrounding this entire novel. As this novel is told directly from Ryland’s point of view, the reader experiences everything as Ryland discovers it. This makes the reading much more personal and placed me firmly inside the character’s mind. From page one all the way through the end, I became this astronaut stranded in a distant galaxy with no idea where I am or why.

I felt his terror at not knowing what is going on, the burden it placed upon my lone shoulders, and the disappointments of failed scientific experiments gone awry. But I also experienced the victories, large and small, of each win he achieved and reveled in the enthusiasm of a scientific mind applying all his growing knowledge to the task at hand.

By the time I got to the end of the book, I fully understood Ryland and his journey, both mental and physical. It is the final recollections that truly illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of his character as a human being. This gives Ryland extra depth as a character and places his actions, both from the past and the present, into a realistic light. It also fully demonstrates what happened to him and why, placing everything before it in a new context.

We also get to meet other characters in these flashbacks, such as other scientists from across the world. Some of them are astronaut candidates, others from different scientific specialties necessary to make this project successfully work.

But none of them is as important as Eva Stratt, head of the Petrova Taskforce. She is the lynchpin under which all the Earth’s resources are combined. Appointed by the United Nations to spearhead this crucial effort, she is the primary decision-maker. Her ability to cut through all the red tape, the politics, and her willingness to consider what would be considered outlandish ideas and marshal resources is uncanny.

Her no-nonsense personality, blunt statements, and boundless authority are frequently hilarious and always purposeful, keeping an eye on the larger goal and not tolerating fools. What she wants for Project Hail Mary, she gets, and heaven help anyone who tries to get in her way.

Science is a big character in this novel. The story is grounded in the hard sciences, such as microbiology, chemistry, physics and so many more. Without it, this novel probably wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense. But the author, as he has done before, smoothly integrates it into the narrative.

Even the more speculative science utilized in the things Ryland encounters is still grounded in reality. It’s effortlessly blended into the novel and explained so that even the novice reader can understand what’s going on. In that way, a reader can easily follow the science to see how it importantly contributes to this novel and comprehend how it works.

The use of science and how much Ryland appreciates and understands is awe-inspiring. Ryland’s sense of amazement and wonder at what he encounters out there in the depths of space never gets old. It infuses the story with a high level of enthusiasm and optimism, no matter what is happening. That feeling is completely infectious and it propels the novel at a pace that makes it highly difficult to put down.

Even though the fate of the entire Earth is threatened by this event, it’s not surprising to see all its countries team up to solve this problem using that can-do spirit and positivity. They’re united under one banner and one common interest: self-preservation of the planet at any cost.

Even with the same purpose, some countries and corporations see these efforts as a way to play politics and try to gain an advantage for themselves instead of selflessly champion this mutual cause. It’s sad to know that this kind of infighting could potentially hamper these efforts if this novel were to happen in real life.

But this novel also shows how deftly one shared cause can benefit the planet, coming together and sharing resources without politics or governments getting in the way. With scientists working together from across the globe, they demonstrate to the world that the path to success is to play nicely and find common ground in the process. Rising above petty selfish needs in service to humanity, scientists lead the way. It’s heartwarming and beautiful to see this in the way the story unfurls, infusing this story with hope against desperate odds. As in so many scenarios, scientists are the real heroes here.

There are also some innovative ideas at play in this novel that would be considered outlandish if they were tried in the real world. But, as Stratt states, everything is on the table in service to the common cause. These ideas are still grounded in real science, though. For example, ideas such as utilizing the Sahara Desert to harness solar power for one of many projects critical to this endeavor’s success.

This story takes place in the near future, like “The Martian” and “Artemis”. Like those, it talks place in a plausible time to come, built upon what we already know and projects forward in time. It retains many aspects of what we experience currently and develops a future that we can see and imagine. But it’s not so far off in the future that we can’t recognize it and find it to be so dissimilar from our own lives.

There are inevitable comparisons to “The Martian”, the author’s first blockbuster novel. There are even some commonalities between that phenomenal novel and this one. A man alone, with deep knowledge of science to help him survive against the great unknown. A hopeless situation and sarcastic wit and humor that is revealed along the way. But that’s where the comparisons end.

Like his other novels “The Martian” and “Artemis”, it’s grounded in hard science fiction while also adroitly integrating the science seamlessly into the novel. Like another hard science fiction author I enjoy, Peter Cawdron, the science only enhances the story and made me appreciate it that much more.

This novel is as good as “The Martian” and superior to that novel in many aspects. It represents a maturation of the author’s abilities here. He successfully builds upon his already burgeoning skill set to craft a compelling story and expand his range to include other elements he hasn’t used before. With intriguing characters, a riveting storyline, real science, and a hero to root for, the end result is the author’s best novel to date.

There are some really fabulous elements to this book, when it's focusing on humans and emotions, but my biggest issue was that when the book goes into Space, it's almost like the priority to get details technically accurate transcends telling a compelling story. It becomes very robotic and I lost my personal connection to the protagonist. I wish the whole book leaned into the human experience.... it would have been more impactful.

Was this book filled with scientific information? Yes. Did I, someone with a biology degree, understand most of it? No. Despite that, it was an enjoyable book, although long and full of information I didn’t really understand.

Dr. Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship, with no memory of how he got there and what he is supposed to be doing with 2 dead crewmates. I liked the flashbacks to the past as he remembers why he is out there and how to save Earth from the energy stealing Astrophage. Despite the rest of his crew not surviving the trip, is Dr. Grace really all alone out there?

The first half of this book was really hard to get in to. I actually put it down at about the 40% mark and read a few other books before picking it back up. The second half really kept my attention and I needed to know what was going to happen and if Earth was going to be saved. I loved the ending!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC for my honest review.

From the author that brought us Potatoes on Mars and Welders on the Moon comes An Amnesiac in Space. Okay. Those aren't the real book names, but they're more appropriate names than The Martian, Artemis, and Project Hail Mary.

So, as you can probably gather from my more superior title, An Amnesiac in Space, our story begins with an amnesiac waking up in space and having no idea what he's doing there. Over time, his memory comes back in flashbacks, and he realizes he's there to save the human race. No biggie.

The sun is dying more quickly than it should, and our hero is on a quest to discover a solution to that problem. And he sciences the heck out of it. Oh yes. That's what Andy Weir does best in his novels. That's his schtick. Physics and chemistry out the wazoo. That's what we loved about The Martian, but sometimes it feels like overkill. Your eyes glaze over, and you just hope our hero knows what he's doing because you know you surely wouldn't.

There were parts of this book that moved rather slowly, and it would have been a complete drag without a very cute and loveable character named Rocky. But I can't talk about that lest I spoil the whole book. I came for the science and stayed for Rocky. I feel that the inclusion of Rocky made this a much better book than Potatoes in Space.

I will say that the ending didn't go where I thought it was going, but it was completely satisfying. I haven't read a better ending to a sci-fi novel in a while. I'm not sure that this book would translate well to the movie screen like Potatoes in Space, but I could be surprised.

What a great read. Fast paced, touching and endearing. Andy Weir writes about solo exploration in a very unique way. This book was not at all what I was expecting, it was so much more.

Highly recommend for a great space read.

I rarely review a book that I’m still reading, but Andy Weir has outdone himself. This is the beat book I’ve read all year. I received an advance copy and I can’t put it down. I don’t want to tell you what happens because the story unfolds so beautifully, you’ll want to experience it for yourself. It’s Andy Weir so you know Space is involved.
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54493401-project-hail-mary" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Project Hail Mary" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1597695864l/54493401._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54493401-project-hail-mary">Project Hail Mary</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6540057.Andy_Weir">Andy Weir</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4048248752">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I rarely review a book that I’m still reading, but Andy Weir has outdone himself. This is the beat book I’ve read all year. I received an advance copy and I can’t put it down. I don’t want to tell you what happens because the story unfolds so beautifully, you’ll want to experience it for yourself. It’s Andy Weir so you know Space is involved.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3494299-lisa">View all my reviews</a>

Ryland Grace wakes up from a deep sleep not remembering his name let alone who he is. All he knows is that he's the only one who's alive, and he's somewhere far away from home.

This was somewhat similar to The Martian, because we saw a man that was all alone trying to survive in space plus there was that dash of humor. I didn't mind at all that there were some similarities because I loved the Martian! I will say that the science was more hardcore in this one and a lot of it went over my head. I was still able to have a fun time reading this one though! If you liked the Martian especially all the science behind it, you'll want to read this book too!

I can also see this book becoming a movie, and I really hope we get an adaptation in the future! Even a sequel to this book would be fun, because the ending left us with so much to think about.

If you're looking for a survival story, a sci-fi read or a story that takes place in outer space, you'll love this one!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this title. I loved The Martian & even though sci-fi isn't my preferred genre, I love his writing style. It's funny and full of nerdiness, but also speaks to much larger issues about how we exist as humans on our lonely little planet. I couldn't stop reading or talking about this book & it will stick with me.

Wow, what an interesting book! I, like a lot of people, loved The Martian and wondered how another book so similar could be different enough to be interesting. Well, it was! I enjoyed the characters so much! I loved the second main character and how creative it was. I also like how the story unfolded between the two timelines. I did not predict how they were going to intersect. The ending was also excellent! I couldn't imagine how it was going to end, but I loved it. The only (picky) thing that kept it from 5 stars for me was the heavy science. There were a few science things that I had to skim over because it was above me. Overall a great book that I think anyone would enjoy!

I loved this book and give it 5 stars. I was excited to read this new book by Andy Weir because I loved The Martian. Project Hail Mary did not disappoint, it is even better than The Martian. Hard science fiction is one of my favorite genres. Project Hail Mary contained a lot of actual math and science. Even though I didn't always understand the science and math, I believed it, which is a hallmark of a good book. Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship with no memory of who he is or how he got there. I liked the plot device of gradual returning memories to tell the story or how and why he came to be on the spaceship. Like all science fiction you have to suspend belief at times and just go with the story. Read this book, you won't be disappointed. Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

This is my first Andy Weir book and it will definitely not be my last.
I'm not a huge science buff but this book had me turning the pages to see how the story pans out.

From the first chapter which just hooks you in you need to know what happens. Ryland Grace is the last survivor on earth and the book starts with him waking up in a strange white pod-like place from a deep sleep with big gaps in his memory. That was enough I needed to know what happened to Ryland Grace!
The quest to figure out who he is, to save humankind and get back home is done so well.
And the good thing is that the story doesn't let up despite the science bit and yes, there's a lot of it in there. The author has done such a fabulous job of researching everything.
The characterisations, the humour which is spot on and the whole plot was extremely well done.

I can't wait to read the next Andy Weir book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I included this book in "This Sunday marks 50 years since Mariner 9 set off for Mars. Explore space from your sofa with these 4 books" for The Seattle Times. Check it out at the link below:

https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/books/this-sunday-marks-50-years-since-mariner-9-set-off-for-mars-explore-space-from-your-sofa-with-these-4-books/

Hats off to Andy Weir for another fabulous book! His books are far from my normal genre but I will always read them because I enjoy his writing style and humor so much. I'm in awe of his knowledge of engineering, science and space and I always learn something as well. This was such a great space adventure story, maybe a little far fetched, but I loved it and hope that a movie is made from it. I've already recommended it several times and I can't wait to see what Mr. Weir brings us next!

If you are looking for a thrill ride of SF tale, you are in the right book! Andy Weir manages to bring another lonely hero into a very sticky situation. The tale opens with the hero waking up in an unknown location for an unknown purpose. As his memory slowly returns, the reader is sucked into a tale of desperation to save the earth from an upcoming ice age. Dr. Grace needs to make plenty of difficult choices to get himself out of the sticky wickets he finds himself in. And this time Andy Weir provides his hero with a buddy! Plenty of adventure, plenty of science, and an overall good read!

I had a blast reading this latest novel by Andy Weir, the author of my favorite book The Martian. This brought me right back to high school AP Chemistry with all the science jargon, sometimes hard to follow, but not super vital to remember the small details in order to keep up with the story. I could totally see this being made into a movie and I'm curious to see how they would bring Rocky to life! And what is this rumbling I hear that Ryan Gosling is already on board to help with this movie?? While I didn't agree with all the decisions the characters made, mainly the side characters, I really loved this new space expedition by Andy! The Martian still holds supreme as my favorite by him, but this was a million times better than his second book, Artemis.

Just as great as the Martian. You can't go wrong with Andy Weirs books. I highly recommend this book.

I’m a big fan of Andy Weir and was so excited when I received an ARC of Project Hail Mary. Weir is just one of those authors that you know their next book is gonna be good. I put off reading it for a bit because I didn’t want to finish it. I’m definitely sad it’s over and I’ll have to begin the wait for the next one! Andy Weir is so gifted at writing that even when he’s explaining complicated scientific problems and solutions, I can still follow along and be entertained without being bored. That’s definitely a feat in itself!

I found Project Hail Mary to be a bit different in tone than Weir’s previous novels. Somehow he takes the premise of Earth being on the brink of death and makes the novel somewhat hopeful with his dry humor. I really enjoyed that you’re following along and discovering all the problems and twists with the main character, Ryland Grace. I don’t want to say too much about the novel because I hate reading spoilers, but there’s plenty of things in this novel that I usually say a hard no to or find cheesy in other novels but it somehow works in Project Hail Mary. I might even say it’s exactly what makes it so lovable. All in all, I’ll say I highly recommend Project Hail Mary and probably anything Andy Weir writes!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for this ARC! It was fantastic!

Andy Weir is a really interesting author. He blends science with story, heavily detailed and with humanity.

Project Hail Mary is more similar to The Martian than Artemis but for me, still was not as great as The Martian. The premise is super interesting and scary- weird substance is starting to absorb the sun and creating a crisis that will result in human extinction. Definitely was hooked from the beginning with that scenario.

The story is told in flashbacks and current state as he gets his memory back after awaking from his coma. The twist comes from meeting an alien, the friendship they formed (which was truly a high point) and then finally the solution. My biggest complaint is the revelation of how he came to be on the ship and the complete lack of details about what is happening on Earth. I want a whole book about what is going on with earth at the time, how they managed to survive (if they did), and how they maybe honored him.

The book kept me hooked until the end, but I wanted more.

Ryland Grace wakes up in a spaceship, with no memory and two mummified bodies in the room with him. What could go wrong? Lots, obviously, but Weir takes the reader on another fascinating, surprising, and suspenseful ride through outer space. Grace is a witty, likable narrator, and once the action gets going, the book moves swiftly. Alternating between flashbacks as Grace regains his memory and the present time events, Weir creates a world that is fascinating and a little too close to the real world for comfort. Could this be our future? If it is, I hope we have a pair like Grace and his new friends on our side.

My only complaint about this novel is that there were times when the science became overly technical, and honestly a bit boring for this liberal arts major. But Weir seemed to correct himself quickly, making the jargon palatable and understandable for any reader. Highly recommend!

I received an ARC of this novel from Net Galley.

**I would give this book 10 stars if I could** I saw the movie ‘The Martian’ before I read the book. I loved the movie so much that I read the book. And the book was BETTER than the movie AFTER I SAW THE MOVIE FIRST, which, for me. never happens. And if it happens for you, please let me in on your secret! So when Project Hail Mary came out, I was so so so excited to read it. It was on the longer side and took me a bit to read, but it was worth every night that I lacked sleep (I had a hard time putting it down, I actually fell asleep reading it a few times). I have always been interested in space and the unknown, and even though this book was not based on actual events, it was so exciting to read. It follows Dr. Grace on his quest to save mankind in the outer depths of the universe. I can’t even begin to go into detail of this book because it is just one of the those books that you HAVE TO READ. Expect interstellar space travel and aliens and obviously things to go wrong (because what kind of book would it be if everything happened exactly as planned). But the end?! I can honestly say that I didn’t think I would want it to end that way, BUT I WAS SO HAPPY THAT IT DID. It completed the book more than I thought I wanted it to. The story ended and I didn’t want more, It was perfect. Thank you to the publisher and NetGally for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.